Ancient God Church.
Shen Qingzhu dragged his scar-covered body forward and slowly pushed open the church's heavy doors.
Creak—!
The ancient, low sound echoed through the empty church. His bloodstained hand trembled at his side, his breathing was unbearably ragged, and every step he took inside the church left behind a deep bloody footprint.
Brilliant phantom light emerged from the Thorn Throne at one side, and The Whisperer's nightmare avatar appeared once more.
When he saw Shen Qingzhu in such a wretched state, his expression changed.
"Shen Qingzhu, what happened to your injuries? Where are the other believers? Why didn't they come with you?"
Shen Qingzhu walked beneath The Whisperer's throne and bowed with difficulty. His cracked lips parted slightly, blood seeping out as he spoke hoarsely.
"My lord... the other seniors... they... they all died!!"
"What?!"
The Whisperer shot to his feet from the throne. The composure and elegance vanished from his face, replaced by unprecedented gravity and solemnity.
"What happened?"
"After we failed to assassinate Wu Tongxuan, we immediately withdrew from Abstinence Hall. But who could have known that we would run into Master Fuzi on the way back to Abstinence Hall..."
"You encountered Master Fuzi?!" The Whisperer's expression turned as ugly as a frostbitten eggplant.
"When Master Fuzi saw us, he attacked without a word. The Second Seat, Fourth Seat, and Fifth Seat fought desperately! The Second Seat knew he was no match, so in the midst of that desperate battle, he endured Master Fuzi's pressure and forcibly sent me away through a spatial rift. That was how I escaped disaster! The three seniors died to save me!"
Shen Qingzhu lowered his head, and a tear slid down his cheek...
The Whisperer sat back down on the throne in a daze. He was completely shaken.
Setting aside